Annually, 4.27 million Canadians aged 12 and older sustain a physical injury that is enough to limit their daily activities.
Physiotherapists play a vital role in the rehabilitation of injuries. These are licensed primary healthcare providers that promote a sustainable lifestyle.
These individuals are health care practitioners with at least 7 years of university training. They can help people improve and maintain their optimal level of functional independence, manage and prevent pain and disability and provide education to promote health and general well being.
What does a physiotherapist do?
When you approach a trusted physiotherapy clinic, your doctor will leverage their expertise of the human anatomy to diagnose and treat symptoms of disabilities, injury, and illness.
Once they’ve pieced together your medical profile, the doctor assigns you a treatment plan that takes into account any physical restrictions you’re experiencing. After attending a couple of follow up sessions, your treatment plan could be revised so as to match your progress and provide the right therapeutic outcome.
This hands-on knowledge goes a long way to restore you to optimal mobility. Apart from simply treating your existing conditions, a physiotherapist also shares valuable insights to improve your general health and wellness.
Will your physiotherapist be qualified?
At Premier Care Physiotherapy, you can expect credentialed, experienced and fully qualified doctors who have been rehabilitating patients with chronic health conditions for several decades.
All registered physiotherapists in Canada are trained to provide safe and effective treatment plans. They have completed the required national entry-level education, and are well-versed in medical safety codes and practice standards.
This aside, your Premier Care Physiotherapist has passed a competency exam before obtaining their license to practice in the province of Ontario.
Physiotherapy is a two-way street and involves you communicating with your doctor about how your body is responding to the treatment. Your physiotherapist will work with you to manage your mobility limitations. Apart from simply treating your present condition, your physiotherapist also educates you on how to prevent a relapse of your symptoms or reinjury.
What conditions can a physiotherapist treat?
Physiotherapy is an evidence-based science and has had tremendous success in treating the following conditions;
- Achilles tendon repair
- ACL reconstruction
- Post-surgery discomfort
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Arthritis
- Fractures and dislocations
- Neck and back pain
- Hip fractures and replacements
- Knee pain
- Muscle, joint and ligament injuries
- Neurological conditions
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Spinal cord injuries
- Tendonitis
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Who is physiotherapy meant for?
Physiotherapy is safe for infants, children, adults, and seniors who experience orthopedic, neurological and cardiopulmonary disorders.
What are the benefits of physiotherapy?
The benefits of physiotherapy are wide as they are varied. When you approach a licensed physiotherapist, here are just a handful of advantages that will come your way;
- Personalized pain treatment plans to obtain a quicker recovery
- Ideal for people of all fitness levels
- Prevents reinjury and relapse of your symptoms
- Prevents future sprains, fractures, and strains
- Restores functional independence and optimal mobility
- Maintains overall health and wellness
Does physiotherapy hurt?
Typically, no. Since your body is already experiencing pain symptoms, it is possible that the stretches and exercises could lead to slight discomfort. Moreover, if your body isn’t accustomed to such movements, you might be sore after each session. Don’t fret! Before you know it, your body will adjust to the treatment plan.
The prospect of pain shouldn’t deter you from attending your physiotherapy session. Remember that your physiotherapist is pushing for a full recovery just as much as you are. They are dedicated to providing pain relief from the condition you are already experiencing. A trained physiotherapist will be cautious to not put you in any further distress.
How long does it take for physiotherapy to work?
There is no textbook answer to this question. The number and length of your physiotherapy sessions will differ from another patient based on the injury you’ve sustained and how your body responds to the treatment plan.
You should stick to your treatment goals until you and your physiotherapy decide that these goals must be reviewed and revised as your condition is no longer benefiting from them.
Typically, it should take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to heal soft tissue; so it stands to reason that your sessions will last for at least that long. The frequency with which you attend sessions per week depends on how quickly you are able to regain your range of motion. If your body demonstrates rapid progress, your doctor may recommend two sessions every week and discharge you with a home exercise program.
Is a chiropractor or physiotherapist better?
Although these two professions overlap, there are stark differences. Chiropractors, much like physiotherapists, treat musculoskeletal and joint disorders to improve your strength. In turn, these carefully curated exercises return you to your natural range of motion.
The main difference is that a chiropractor will use manipulation exercises whereas a physiotherapist will use mobilization exercises.
A chiropractor uses their hands to shift the joints in the spine. They also adjust limbs that display indications of limited movement. The primary goal of the treatment is to enable you to move freely.
Chiropractors treat acute lower back and neck pain, sciatica, tension headaches, vertigo, and joint disorders.
A physiotherapist uses massage tactics, electrical therapy and exercises to restore function. They treat arthritis, joint swelling, strain injuries, neck pain, ligament/cartilage/tendon damage, and sports injuries.
Does insurance cover physiotherapy?
Yes; depending on the reason for which you attend physiotherapy. Most insurance plans will cover treatments that are intended to rehabilitate the patient from a medical disorder (ALS, sports injuries, Arthritis, etc.)
Insurance does not cover physiotherapy sessions that the patient undertakes to lose weight or for personal fitness.
OHIP takes care of the cost of in-clinic physiotherapy for seniors, youth, and adults who are treating an illness, injury or recovering from surgery.
Premier Care Physiotherapy is the Leading Pain Relief Clinic in Richmond Hill
What to expect on your first visit?
On the first visit, your Pelvic Health physiotherapist Mary Kazem will review your medical history and a list of your current symptoms. Also, she will do an external assessment to check spine, sacroiliac joints, hips and pelvis mobility, muscles of lower back, abdominal and gluteals.
She will also do an internal examination to assess the function of pelvic floor muscles, possible muscle tightness, and adhesion.
After the examination, Mary will discuss her findings and treatment plan with you. Treatment may include soft tissue release, strengthening exercises, hands-on mobilization, pelvic hygiene education, and exercises.
In some cases, your physiotherapist might use a muscle stimulator to train pelvic floor muscles.
At Premier Care physiotherapy clinic pelvic Floor physiotherapy offered by a highly trained registered pelvic health physiotherapist (Mary Kazem) and it is covered by most of the extended health plans.